Our Humanity

Yesterday in church Carl said something that really hit me. He was preaching from Matthew 16:21-28. He was describing how Jesus explained to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer at the hands of the chief priests and teachers of the law. He told them that he would be killed and be raised to life on the third day. Verse 22 says, ^“Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” ²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Further into the sermon, when he was talking about why Peter betrayed Jesus, he asked the question; “Do you know why he did it?” His answer to the congregation was, “Because of his humanity.” WHAM!

Jesus knew what Peter was going to do when he said to him, “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” He knows that our humanity is what leads us to sin. He knows! Yet he loves us anyway. He made that trip to Jerusalem to make sure that as sinners we would be forgiven.

For us to live lives that are pleasing to Him, we must do as James 4:8 says. “Come nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.” Live close to the Savior and he will enable us to at times overcome our humanity and make better choices.

A song the ensemble sings comes to mind. The song was written by Ivan Parker and is called “A Little More Like You.”

Read the words below in a prayerful way.

Grant me your holiness
Make me devoted deep within
I plead for patience in my trials
And more sorrow for my sin
A deeper faith in you
Dear Lord, please give me every day
Let me find joy in my journey
And more purpose when I pray

This is my prayer
Lord, when this day is through
Was I a little less like me
And a little more like you
My lone desire
In all I say or do
Was I a little less like me
And a little more like you

Give me more gratitude
Help me to love you even more
And take pride only in your glory
And trust only in your word
Let me shed sorrow’s tears
When others pain, when others grieve
And may my neighbor please see Jesus
Every time that they see me

This is my prayer
Lord, when this day is through
Was I a little less like me
And a little more like you
My lone desire
In all I say or do
Was I a little less like me
And a little more like you

Yes, we are human. Yes we make mistakes. But guess what? We can become a little more like Him if we will draw close to Him.

Enjoy listening to “A Little More Like You” written and sung by Ivan Parker.